ottaa tavaksi
to get into the habit
Phrase in 30 Seconds
Use 'ottaa tavaksi' to describe the intentional act of starting a new routine or making a behavior permanent.
- Means: To consciously start doing something as a regular habit.
- Used in: Health goals, workplace routines, and describing personal lifestyle changes.
- Don't confuse: With 'tapahtua' (to happen) or 'tavata' (to meet/spell).
Explanation at your level:
معنی
To start doing something regularly.
زمینه فرهنگی
Finns value 'arkirutiinit' (everyday routines) as a way to manage the long, dark winters. Taking a habit like 'morning coffee' or 'evening sauna' is culturally significant. In Finnish work culture, 'ottaa tavaksi' is often used during onboarding to explain unwritten rules, like the 'kahvitauko' (coffee break) culture. Public health campaigns in Finland often use 'Ota tavaksi' to encourage healthy behaviors, such as 'hyötyliikunta' (incidental exercise). Finnish schools encourage students to 'ottaa tavaksi' independent study habits from a young age, reflecting the value of autonomy.
Use with the 1st Infinitive
Always follow this phrase with the basic form of the verb (e.g., juosta, syödä, lukea). It's the most natural way to speak.
Don't forget the -ksi
If you say 'ottaa tapa', it sounds like you are physically picking up a habit like an object. The '-ksi' is essential to show the change into a habit.
معنی
To start doing something regularly.
Use with the 1st Infinitive
Always follow this phrase with the basic form of the verb (e.g., juosta, syödä, lukea). It's the most natural way to speak.
Don't forget the -ksi
If you say 'ottaa tapa', it sounds like you are physically picking up a habit like an object. The '-ksi' is essential to show the change into a habit.
Modesty
When a Finn says 'Olen ottanut tavaksi...', it's a humble way to mention a positive achievement without sounding like they are bragging.
خودت رو بسنج
Fill in the missing word in the correct form.
Olen ottanut ______ käydä uimassa kerran viikossa.
The phrase always uses the translative case 'tavaksi'.
Which sentence is grammatically correct?
Choose the correct option:
After 'ottaa tavaksi', the verb must be in the 1st infinitive (lukea).
Complete the dialogue.
A: Väsyttääkö sinua aina aamuisin? B: Kyllä, minun pitäisi ______ mennä aikaisemmin nukkumaan.
The speaker is expressing a personal intention to start a new habit.
Match the habit to the situation.
Situation: You want to save money. What do you 'ottaa tavaksi'?
Saving receipts is a habit that helps with budgeting.
🎉 امتیاز: /4
ابزارهای بصری یادگیری
Intentional vs. Accidental
Common Habits
Health
- • syödä terveellisesti
- • liikkua
Work
- • tauottaa työ
- • suunnitella päivä
سوالات متداول
10 سوالTechnically yes, but it usually implies a conscious choice. For bad habits that 'just happened', 'tulla tavaksi' or 'langeta tapaan' is more common.
Yes, they are interchangeable in 90% of cases. 'Ottaa tavaksi' is slightly more common for personal resolutions.
It is the translative case. It indicates a change in state—something becoming a habit.
No, 'tavaksi' remains the same regardless of the subject (minä, sinä, he, jne.).
It's rare. Usually, you need a verb like 'syödä' (to eat) or 'harrastaa' (to practice). Instead of 'ottaa tavaksi omenan', say 'ottaa tavaksi syödä omenan'.
It's neutral. You can use it with friends or in a business meeting.
Yritän ottaa tavaksi [tehdä jotain].
The opposite is 'luopua tavasta' (to give up a habit).
Yes, you can add a possessive suffix ('tavakseni', 'tavaksesi'), but it sounds more old-fashioned or poetic. 'Tavaksi' is the modern standard.
Yes, many Finnish pop songs use it when talking about changing one's life or routines.
عبارات مرتبط
tottua
similarTo get used to something
tehdä tavaksi
synonymTo make a habit
vakiinnuttaa
specialized formTo establish/standardize
luopua tavasta
contrastTo give up a habit
tulla tavaksi
similarTo become a habit
کجا استفاده کنیم
At the Gym
Trainer: Sinun pitäisi ottaa tavaksi lämmitellä ennen treeniä.
Client: Olet oikeassa, otan sen tavaksi heti tänään.
In the Office
Pomo: Ota tavaksi tallentaa raportit tähän kansioon.
Työntekijä: Selvä, otan tavaksi tehdä niin vastaisuudessa.
New Year's Eve
Liisa: Mitä aiot muuttaa ensi vuonna?
Matti: Otan tavaksi lukea yhden kirjan kuukaudessa.
Doctor's Appointment
Lääkäri: Ota tavaksi mitata verenpaine aamuisin.
Potilas: Yritän ottaa sen tavaksi.
Dating
A: Oletpa sinä kohtelias!
B: Olen ottanut tavaksi avata oven muille.
Social Media Caption
Influencer: Ota tavaksi hymyillä peilille joka aamu! ✨
Follower: Ihana vinkki, otan heti tavaksi!
Memorize It
Mnemonic
Think of 'Ottaa' as 'Obtaining' a new 'Tapa' (habit) for your 'Ksi' (Calendar/Schedule).
Visual Association
Imagine yourself physically picking up a small, glowing seed labeled 'Habit' and planting it into a calendar. The act of picking it up is 'ottaa'.
Rhyme
Ota tavaksi, niin elämä muuttuu paremmaksi! (Make it a habit, and life gets better!)
Story
Pekka wanted to be healthy. He decided to 'ottaa' (take) a running shoe. He put it on his 'tapa' (habit) shelf. Now, every morning, he looks at the shelf and remembers his 'tavaksi' (for a habit) to run.
Word Web
چالش
Write down three things you want to 'ottaa tavaksi' this month using the Finnish sentence structure.
In Other Languages
Tomar por costumbre
Spanish uses the preposition 'por', while Finnish uses the translative case suffix '-ksi'.
Prendre l'habitude
French uses a definite article ('l'habitude'), whereas Finnish uses the case ending.
Sich etwas zur Gewohnheit machen
The German structure is more complex with the reflexive pronoun and the preposition 'zu'.
習慣にする (Shuukan ni suru)
Japanese focuses on 'making' rather than 'taking'.
تعود على (Ta'awwada 'ala)
Arabic is more about the process of 'getting used to' than the act of 'taking a habit'.
养成习惯 (Yǎngchéng xíguàn)
The metaphor is 'cultivation' rather than 'taking'.
습관을 들이다 (Seupgwaneul deurida)
The verb 'deurida' is very different from the Finnish 'ottaa'.
Adquirir o hábito
It sounds slightly more formal than the Finnish 'ottaa'.
Easily Confused
Both start with 'tapa-', leading learners to think they are related to 'happening'.
Remember: 'Tapa' is a noun (habit), 'Tapahtua' is a verb (to happen). You can't 'take a happening'.
The verb 'tavata' means 'to meet' or 'to spell'.
If you are meeting a person, it's 'tavata'. If you are starting a routine, it's 'ottaa tavaksi'.
سوالات متداول (10)
Technically yes, but it usually implies a conscious choice. For bad habits that 'just happened', 'tulla tavaksi' or 'langeta tapaan' is more common.
Yes, they are interchangeable in 90% of cases. 'Ottaa tavaksi' is slightly more common for personal resolutions.
It is the translative case. It indicates a change in state—something becoming a habit.
No, 'tavaksi' remains the same regardless of the subject (minä, sinä, he, jne.).
It's rare. Usually, you need a verb like 'syödä' (to eat) or 'harrastaa' (to practice). Instead of 'ottaa tavaksi omenan', say 'ottaa tavaksi syödä omenan'.
It's neutral. You can use it with friends or in a business meeting.
Yritän ottaa tavaksi [tehdä jotain].
The opposite is 'luopua tavasta' (to give up a habit).
Yes, you can add a possessive suffix ('tavakseni', 'tavaksesi'), but it sounds more old-fashioned or poetic. 'Tavaksi' is the modern standard.
Yes, many Finnish pop songs use it when talking about changing one's life or routines.
